“Drive” romanticizes a lot of things that shouldn’t be romanticized: The myth of redemptive violence, dangerous and illegal driving, robbery, evading police and, most egregiously, Members Only jackets. But one thing Nicolas Winding Refn’s 80s-themed, stone-cold badass tale gets right, is the sheer power of cinematic style. The director of other style-over-substance masterpieces such as [...]
It’s Guy Fawkes Night, and the South London sky is pulsing with brilliant explosions. In the midst of the celebration, Sam (Jodie Whittaker) is mugged at knife-point by a gang of teen hoodlums. Before they get away with their meager take, however, a flaming object smashes into a nearby car. Moses (John Boyega), the gang’s leader, [...]
Critics can be a fickle bunch. Lavishing this, lambasting that. But with most films it’s relatively easy to predict the critical response. Originality, cohesiveness, perky dialogue and fleshed out characters get the O.K. Convoluted stories, dull characters and shameless wish-fulfillment fantasies are blasted. But since “Jaws” gave birth to the summer blockbuster in 1975, and that [...]
Up-and-coming auteur Rian Johnson recently tweeted, “The filmmaking in Hanna was pretty humbling.” That’s high praise coming from the man behind the indie caper sensation “Brick” and the quirky con flick “The Brothers Bloom.” But high praise is old hat for “Hanna” director Joe Wright who’s used to being gushed over by cinephiles. The minutes-long [...]
The most common mistake made by first-time directors is to cram every film school trick and cutting edge idea into that debut film. A bloated, pretentious, insufferable and flashy effort is often the result. On the other hand, a great director’s first film is rarely representative of his/her full repertoire of skills and ideas. Even [...]
Anyone who has ever worked in a corporate setting or been trained in some unique job or activity has had to sit through an outdated, ineffectual instructional video. When I worked as a data operator for the US Postal Service I was treated to several rounds of carpal tunnel-based warning videos in which both the [...]
“Retired, Extremely Dangerous” is the secret behind the ambiguous title of the Robert Schwentke-directed adaptation of the popular graphic novel “RED,” created by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner. Fitting, considering the average age of the film’s super spy task force kicking ass and literally taking names is 62. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and [...]
The permanent scowl etched into the ungodly face of Danny Trejo has helped the former San Quentin State Prison boxing champion parlay his talent for the terrible into a decorated Hollywood career. Trejo’s specialty has been wielding that hellish face like a Mexican Medusa to command scenes as a solid supporting player. His leading roles have [...]
As a product of the 1980s, I often reflect on my childhood and the distinctive pop culture of that era. Television provided me endless hours of action and adventure through the eyes of my favorite heroes. The Ninja Turtles and the X-Men were daily staples, and the WWF (now WWE) was in its prime. Contrary [...]
With the resurgence of movies based on toys in recent years, it was high time to reach into the past and dust off the hidden gem that started it all. Many people who grew up watching the “Transformers” television show will remember that in 1986 Hasbro released a full length animated feature film called “The [...]
Loco: London’s 1st Comedy Film Festival
Orlando: Does Sex Matter?
A soothing demise: Lars von Trier’s ‘Melancholia’ considered
The Power of Limits in The Five Obstructions
Surviving ‘Surviving Life’
‘The Other’ at The 2nd London Iranian Film Festival
‘Leaving’: Made in Prague
A Step Forward: New African Film in Paris
Adapting to The Skin I Live In: The Antidote to Horror
Chicken with Plums: Better on Paper
